British Police Women’s Rugby skipper discusses pride at culture change

15 August 2025

She may have only joined British Police Women’s Rugby (BPWRFC) last year, but Federation member Amy Orrow has already had a true leader’s impact on the team.

And the same can be said for her time in policing, having started at Northamptonshire Police just 12 months earlier, following a career in arboriculture and outdoor adventure.

BPWRFC, the rugby union team made up of female officers from around the UK, was a subject of interest to Amy even before her start to life in the Force in 2023, thanks to a friend already involved in the set-up.

This meant one of her first ambitions as a cop was to become part of the team, and as such, she says she was more than ready to make her mark from the off.

 

Amy Orrow in action on the pitch (Clare Gelderd Photography).

 

“Obviously, that was provided I was successful in the trials. I’d seen how much the team had grown over the years, from the bones of a starting team to now having a full selection process, and I was so keen to be involved,” PC Amy said.

“The trials were competitive, but once I did get on the team, it immediately proved to be everything I thought it would be – a lovely family of women in policing, brought together by this sport.”

“I would say in my first 18 months as a police officer, it’s given me some of my most enjoyable moments yet. The job itself comes first, of course, but having something like this on the side has only made me more certain I was right to take my career in this direction.”

Influence

Having lived up to Amy’s expectations at first, more recent months have seen BPWRFC begin to exceed them, with her influence across both its first and second sides growing faster than she could have imagined.

Last August, she was named the new first team captain, a remarkable six months after coming into the fold.

She says the team’s management pointed towards her accomplished background in rugby, which began at the age of 14 and has spanned across a range of levels up to the very top at Premiership outfits Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks.

This means the 37-year-old now skippers the first team in its fixture schedule of around four to five matches annually, mostly against other police forces, emergency services, and public institutions such as the army and civil service.

Perhaps more importantly, though, Amy was deemed a right fit for the BPWRFC captaincy – which changes hands every two years – for her qualities off the pitch.

 

 

“Being made captain was a huge surprise and an absolute honour at the same time. I do see myself as a natural leader, and I have so much love for the game, so after getting over the shock, it has felt very right for me,” she added.

“Whether it’s rugby, work or something else, though, I’ve always been a massive advocate of everyone feeling valued.

“Since being captain, along with the coaching team, I’ve helped to introduce more of a one-squad mentality, where playing time is more fluid between the first and second sides.

“Before, it was more like a player belonged to one or the other, and while that can have its own merits, it could feel quite us-versus-them at times.

Captaincy

“The change seems to be working really well so far, and that’s what I’m loving most about the captaincy – I can have a hand in decisions that can make many individual experiences even better.”

Looking ahead, the momentous occasions for Amy in BPWRFC are set to continue, with important matches still to come this year against county-level amateur team North East Women in August and the British Army in December.

Her first overseas tour – another source of fixtures for the team – as captain will then come in January 2026, when she leads her teammates out over in South Africa for two matches against a feeder team to a top-level domestic side.

“South Africa will be amazing – by that point, we’ll all have been bonded for well over a year in this new squad structure.

“The end of this year into the beginning of next year will be a busy time for us, and that’s exactly what I want to be involved in.”

Commitment

Amy, who usually plays as a number eight, ended by outlining her commitment to police rugby for these upcoming clashes and beyond.

“Being in this profession now, and then going and representing it playing the sport I love, is nothing short of incredible,” she said.

“Even when I’m no longer captain, I’ll cherish every opportunity I get to do so.

“But while I’m in the role, I’m going to keep pushing my principles around inclusivity and rugby being for everyone – that’s what I’m all about. 

“As I said, this team has been built into a real family over the years, and if I can do my bit to keep it getting that bit closer, I’ll be thrilled.”

Federation members can keep up to date with BPWRFC’s exploits on Instagram.

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